Spark-plug-cleaning device



Nov. 6, 1928.

G. w. FLEMING ET AL SPARK PLUG CLEANING DEVICE Filed Dec. 1927 52m W5; 3 f 0% I -1 7 Patented Nov. e, 1928:

""1",6-90,6z9f UNITED: STATES PATE'NTTOFFICE.

GEORGE w. FLEMING Ann 303mm w. ELLINGHAM, or WORCESTER, fiassacnusn'rzrs,

ASSIGNORS TO, FLEMING MACHINE COMPANY, on woncn's'rnn, massacnvsmrs, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SPABK-PLUG-CLEANIN G DEVTCE.

Application filed m mber s, 1927. Serial No. 238,200.

by which ablast of abrasive can be directed against a spark plug for removing the carbon and other foreign matters; to provide an arrangement by which the spark plug can be turned to different positions so as to receive the blast directlv on different .sides of the spark plug, thus permitting a thorough cleaning, without reducing-the force of the blast; to provide means by which the spark plug can thereafter ber further cleaned by applying an air blast to it to remove the particles of sand and to provide an improved construction of the sand blast .of Fig. 1, showing the. air blastfvalve in apparatus itself: Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the aceompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a sand blast apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in action for cleaning a spark plug;'

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 on the line 3-3 plan, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, showing the operation of the valve. l I

For the purpose of introducing a blast of sand or" abrasive. against a spark plug I provide a box or receptacle 10, having slanting walls at the. bottom and a layer of sand 3 11in the bottom, with a-nozzle casing 12 secured" to one end of the box and extending nearly across it, -The nozzle casing has a sand inlet 13' extending down into the sand for directing the sand upwardly into the interior of the nozzle casing at'a forward inclination Where it reaches the nozzle proper 14 through which'the sand'is dis.- .eharged." v v ,p

For the purpose of dischargingthe sand I introduce air under pressure, preferably froma flexible hose 15 through. a valve 16 into an air nozzle 17 in the casing 12 which opens inside the sand nozzle .14 and 'is 'cen:

located with respect thereto. I This tlltlll air last is introducedjnto an enlarged chamber 19 in the casing 12 and then into the contracted nozzle 14.' This creates a suction which draws up sand, through'the conical passage '13 and discharges it through.

the nozzle 14.

The valve 16 has a stem and handle 20 and I two ports 21 and 22 communicating, with each other at an angle.' WVhen open, the air comes in through the passage 23 along the port 21 and out into the passage 24 which communicates with the nozzle 17 In .the position shown in Fig. ,5, the valvev is entirely closed, but obviously it can .be

turned to'produce the result just mentioned.-

The valve casing is also provided with. an-

other passage 25 which extends to an air nozzle 26 and when the valve 16v is'turned so as to provide a communicationbetween the passages 23 and '25, through the'port 22, the air will be'cut off from the nozzle. 17

and forced-out through the nozzle 26. This valve is provided with, a plate 27 and the valve stem 20 with a pointer 28 to show the position of the valve at all times.

The box or receptacle 10 is provided with an opening 30 of comparatively large size directly in line with the center of the nozzle 17, which opening is provided with a seat 31 of concave shape to fit the convex surface 32 of an adapter 33 with which I pro vide thespark plug 35. This adapter, there'- fore, can be placed against this surface 31 in the central position shown in Fig. 1 or it can be turned in the manner of a universal joint thoughout quite an angle, in all directions, to receive a blast of sand, emery,

orother abrasive against the wire of the.

spark plug from different directions and on different sides. This provides a seat for the adapter which permits it to be turned to various positions for thorough cleaning.

The adapter. fits the seat-31 and airwill not be lost due toturning the spark plugto. dif

ferent positions.

The airescapes from the box or casinglfl screens '34 to catch the abrasive and cause it to flow down into the bottom again.

' through a series of openings provided with,

or particles of loose material of other kinds. For the purpose of giving it a cleaning by a blast of air to remove such'solid particles the spark plug is placed over the nozzle 26 and the valve 16 turned to a position to cut oil the air from the sand blast and turn it onthe spark plug in this position. In this way the spark plug can be thoroughly cleaned without taking it to pieces or readjusting it or running the danger of getting the points out of adjustment and the operation is very short and simple. The only power required is to connect it up with a source ofcompressed air which is readily available in most places where such a device is used. I A

Wherever we refer to a sand blast it is to be understood that we mean a blast of sand, emery, or any granular abrasive. Al-

though we have illustrated and described onlyfone form of the invention we are aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited in these respects, but what we do claim is 1. In a device for cleaning spark plugs, the combination with a receptacle having a contracted bottom and provided with a layer of granular abrasive therein, of an air blast nozzle extendin into the receptacle, a casing having a nozz e surrounding the air blast nozzle and concentric therewith and provided with aninlet extending at an incline down into the body of the abrasive, said receptacle having an opening in line with said nozzle provided with a concave seat, and an adapter for the spark plug having a convex surface, whereby the adapter can be held against the seat and turned to various angles while the blast is playing upon it to receive the force of the abrasive at various angles.

2, In a device for cleaning spark plugs, the combination with a receptacle having a layer of abrasive therein in fine particles, of a nozzle provided with an inlet extending down into the body of the abrasive, said receptacle having an opening in line with said nozzle and provided with a concave seat, and an adapter for the-spark plug having a convex surface fitting said seat, whereby the spark plug adapter can be held against the seat to receive the force of the abrasive at various angles.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

GEORGE W. FLEMING. ROBERT W. ELLINGI-IAM. 

